Game Notes, August 18 at Springfield
Published on August 18, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
Corpus Christi (32-21, 69-54) @ Springfield (35-17, 70-52)
Arkansas was undeterred by the two-hour rain delay last night, using solid pitching and a four-run third inning to roll past Corpus Christi 6-1, claiming the series at Dickey-Stephens Park. After dropping the first six games against the Hooks, Arkansas won five of the final six meetings, outscoring Corpus Christi 36-16 during that stretch. Orangel Arenas, who had been struggling of late, put together a fine outing, holding the Hooks to one run on six hits over 5.2 innings. He walked three and fanned seven, throwing 63 of 101 pitches for strikes. Three Trav relievers combined to allow two hits and two walks the rest of the way. Paul McAnulty did most of the damage at the plate, belting a three-run home run to right field in the third. The left-handed slugger smacked two long balls in the series and drove in five.
Outside of his 1-0 pitch to McAnulty, Rob Rasmussen pitched well. The lefty yielded three other hits and one additional run thru five innings. Rasmussen walked one and struck out five, retiring the final seven men he faced. Jacob Goebbert cracked two hits and worked a lead-off walk in the sixth. He scored the lone run for CC on Adam Bailey's double to center field.
Corpus Christi owns a five-game lead in the Texas League South second-half race with 17 to play.
Tonight's Matchup: RHP Matt Heidenreich (1-1, 5.40) vs. RHP Scott McGregor (5-1, 5.40)
Heidenreich, acquired by the Astros in the trade that sent Brett Myers to the White Sox, makes his fifth start with the Hooks. He matched up against McGregor last Sunday at home, surrendering five runs (3ER) over 5.1 innings. Heidenreich did not walk a batter and struck out three but all of five hits went for extra bases. He failed to record an out on August 6 in Midland, allowing five runs and six hits . Heidenreich was effective in his first two starts with the club, permitting a combined three earned runs in 13 innings (2.08 ERA). He has notched 16 groundouts compared to five fly outs. Heidenreich began the season at Winston-Salem where he went 8-2 with a 3.57 ERA over 15 starts, including two complete games and one shutout. The 21-year old struck out 62 and walked 13 in 93.1 innings while holding the circuit to a .246 batting average. Heidenreich was the starting pitcher in the Carolina-California League All-Star Game. A fourth-round selection of Chicago in 2009, Heidenreich ranked within the Carolina League's top ten in ERA (6th), WHIP (T-2nd, 1.06) and home runs allowed (12, 4th). Heidenreich won his last four starts with the Dash, posting a 1.28 ERA and 15 strikeouts against three walks in 28.0 innings. He was promoted to Birmingham (1-2, 5.89 ERA) at the beginning of July and won his first start after yielding one earned run in eight frames at Pensacola.
- 10-10 with a 4.32 ERA in 27 starts for Kannapolis last season (101 K | 31 BB | 13 HR | 154.1 IP)
- Enters play tonight with 25 8 career strikeouts against 77 walks in 3 83 . 1 IP
- Drafted out of Temescal Canyon High School
McGregor, a 15th-round pick of St. Louis in the 2008 draft out of the University of Memphis, makes his ninth start and 10th appearance with Springfield. McGregor was tagged for six runs (5 ER) on nine hits in 5.1 innings last Sunday. Two of those runs came on solo shots by Jon Singleton and Drew Locke. He has yielded 10 earned runs in his last two outings (9.2 IP). McGregor has won his last four decisions though, notching a 1.95 ERA from July 16 to August 1. During that stretch, he walked three and fanned 17, allowing just one home run. McGregor yielded 13 earned runs in his first three starts with Springfield for an ERA of 10.64. He spent the first two months in extended spring training, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. McGregor made two starts for Palm Beach in mid-June before being promoted to Springfield. With PBC, he was touched for three runs (2 ER) over eight innings. In 2010, McGregor went 10-8 with a 3.14 ERA in 31 appearances and 20 starts between Palm Beach and Springfield. He walked 22 and struck out 67. McGregor ranked in the top 10 among Cardinals farmhands in wins (T-5th), innings pitched (137.2, T-9th), ERA (7th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.05, 10th). He won five of his last six starts while carving out a 2.53 ERA. McGregor was tabbed by Baseball America as having the best control in the St. Louis system entering the 2010 campaign.
- Missed 2011 season due to an elbow injury
- 26-20 with a 4.05 ERA and a 2.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio thru 4 pro seasons (196 K | 67 BB | 346.1 IP)
- Went 7-3 as a freshman for the Tigers, recording three complete-game victories
No. 70
Corpus Christi is searching for its 70th victory of the season, a first for the franchise since the 2006 Texas League Championship campaign. The 2006 club finished the regular season 13 games over .500 at 76-63. This year's team will have to go 8-9 the rest of the way to finish with the best record in Hooks history.
Series business
Corpus Christi has lost just three of its last 19 series, winning 12 while splitting four. Since claiming three of four June 6-9 vs. Midland, the Hooks are 42-25 for a winning percentage of .627. Corpus Christi posted the best record in the Texas League in both June (18-8) and July (20-10). The 20 victories in July set a club record for wins in a month.
About Sunday night...
The Hooks scored 12 times in the sixth inning last Sunday, routing Springfield 20-9 at Whataburger Field. Corpus Christi set or tied several franchise and season highs. It set a new club record for runs in a game for the second time this season, eclipsing the previous record of 17, last done August 4 at Midland in a 17-6 win. The Hooks also broke their club record for runs in an inning, done in an 11-run ninth of that same win in Midland.
The 20 hits Corpus Christi posted are the most the club has had in a game this season, following a 19-hit barrage June 17 at Frisco. The franchise record for hits in a game is 24, achieved April 24, 2008 vs. Midland. The Hooks had nine extra base hits, which is one shy of the team's all-time record of 10, last accomplished August 4 at Midland.
The Hooks and Cardinals combined to tie the record for most runs scored in a single game at Whataburger Field with 29. The other 29-run ballgame came on May 29, 2009 when the Hooks fell to Arkansas 19-10. Corpus Christi has lost two games at Midland in which the teams combined to score 30 runs: 24-6 on May 22, 2009 and 20-10 on April 16, 2006. Sunday night's game was the highest scoring game Corpus Christi has ever won.
Pitching Rotation at Springfield
Sunday: RHP Paul Clemens (1-2, 5.32) vs. RHP Richard Castillo (7-4, 3.69)
Monday: RHP Asher Wojciechowski (1-2, 3.46) vs. LHP Kevin Siegrist (1-1, 4.40)
HOOKS PLAYER NOTES
Adam Bailey
- 1-for-3 with a BB and RBI double last night...lone appearance of series at ARK
- 0-for-2 in Springfield series...both ABs came as a PH
- 3 for his last 16 with three doubles and three RBIs
- Has played in just six games in August (three starts)
- Hit .308 with 2 doubles, 1 home run and 7 RBIs thru 17 games in July
- Batting .250(27-108) vs. RHP; .300(6-20) vs. LHP; .306(11-36) w/RISP
- Added to roster May 30 from Advanced-A Lancaster
- In 47 games with the JetHawks was batting .279-8-25 with 2 SBs
- In 23 games at the end of last season with the Hooks hit .323-3-15
Bobby Borchering
- 2-for-10 with 1 R, 3B, 2B and 2 RBIs in series at ARK
- 3 H & 4 RBIs in last 9 G (27 ABs, 9 Ks, 3 BBs)
- Notched 2nd four-RBI game with CC last Saturday (3-R HR & SF)...lone start vs. SPR (ankle)
- 7-for-16 with 4 runs, two doubles, two home runs and 4 RBIs in series at Midland
- In first six games with the Hooks went 8-for-20 (.400) with 3 HR and 10 RBI
- Hit .277 with 23 2B, 18 HR and 60 RBIs for Visalia this season
- Promoted to Mobile on July 3: .103-2-8 in 21 games for the BayBears
- 1st round pick of the D-Backs in 2009, rated as best power hitter in their system by BA
- Tabbed by MLB.com as Arizona's No. 11 prospect
- Hit .267 with 29 2B, 24 HR and 92 RBIs for Visalia last year
- Has struck out 454 times compared to 145 walks in his career
- Played exclusively in the OF this season with ARI...161 G at 3B | 68 G at 1B thru first 3 years
- Graduated from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, same alma mater as Chris Johnson
Jay Fernandez
- 1-for-3 with a BB last night...lone app. at ARK | 6-for-33 (.181) in 9 G since rejoining club
- Has hit safely in 22 of the last 31, 30-106 (.283) w/ 7 2B, 4 HR, 17 R & 20 RBIs
- Promoted in mid-July, was 1-for-8 w/ 2 RBIs for the RedHawks...hip-flexor injury limited action
- Selected Texas League Player of the Week June 11-17, hit .524-1-5 with 3 doubles
- Batting .230(26-113) vs. RHP; .289(13-45) vs. LHP; .235(12-51) w/RISP
- Has a career caught-stealing percentage of 38.8 (170 of 438)
- In 8 seasons in the Mariners and Twins systems, hit .244-16-162 in 439 games
Jacob Goebbert
- 2-for-6 with 2 R and 3 BB at ARK | 5-for-10 with 3 R, 2 2B and an RBI in SPR series
- Has hit safely in 6 of last 8 games, 12-22 (.545) with 9 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBIs & 5 BB
- Snapped a 2-for-15 spell | 5 RBIs in last 24 games
- T-8th in average (.294) and is 5th in OBP (.397)
- Hit .282 with 4 2B, 1 3B, 20 BB, 16 K, 2 HR and 10 RBIs in July
- Promoted to OKC on June 9...went 4-for-30 (.133) with 2 R, 1 2B and 1 RBI in 16 G
- His walk-off, 3-run HR April 9 the first walk-off HR in his pro career
- Named Texas League Co-Player of the Week (April 5-15), hit .429
- Batting .278(67-241) vs. RHP; .347(26-75) vs. LHP; .325(27-83) w/RISP
Robbie Grossman
- Has hits in 15 of his 20 games with CC
- 1-8 in series at ARK with 2 strikeouts
- 6-12 with 5 runs, two doubles, one triple and 3 RBIs in series vs. SPR
- Batting .306(19-62) vs. RHP; .263(6-17) vs. LHP; .231(3-13) w/RISP
- Acquired from PIT with LHPs Rudy Owens and Colton Cain for LHP Wandy Rodriguez
- Hit .266 with 20 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 36 RBI and 9 SB in 95 games for Altoona (.378 OBP)
- Was 5th in the Eastern League with 59 runs scored and first in walks (59) before the trade
- Named Pittsburgh's Player of the Year last year, led the FSL in runs (124) and walks (104)
- Hit .292 with 13 home runs, 56 RBIs and 24 stolen bases for Bradenton, posting a .381 OBP
- Originally a 6th round pick of the Pirates in 2008 out of Cy Fair High School in Houston
- Ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's No. 7 prospect entering 2012
Enrique Hernandez
- 0-4 Thursday snapped a three-game hit streak (4-11 with 2 R, 1 2B and 1 RBI)
- Went 3-for-12 with two runs, 1 double and 1 RBIs in Springfield series
- Promoted from High-A Lancaster Friday...went 0-for-4 in Double-A debut
- With the JetHawks, hit .275 (104-378) with 52 R, 25 2B, 7 3B, 5 HR and 49 RBI in 100 games
- Let the CL 2B in fielding percentage (.971) and double plays (71) turned
- In June, hit .330 (30-91) with 15 RBI | His 9.56 PA/K ration ranked 3rd in the circuit
- Played for Lexington in 2011 and hit .247-2-17; with Tri-City in 2010, hitting .280-3-33
- Named the ValleyCats' P-o-M for August as Tri-City went on to win the NYPL Championship
- Was the Gulf Coast League Astros MVP for 2009, after hitting .295
- Selected by HOU in the 6th round of the 2009 draft out of the American Military Academy in PR
Drew Locke
- Clubbed second inside-the-park home run in club history Thursday night
- Went 2-for-8 in series at ARK with HR and 2 RBIs
- Entered in a double switch Mon. (0-1), snapped 3-game hit streak, 4-12 w/ 5 R, 1 HR & 2 RBIs
- 1-for-11 in Arkansas series with 4 Ks
- Has hit safely in 19 of last 23, 32-85 (.376) with 7 2B, 1 3B, 17 R, 3 HR and 20 RBIs
- Hits in 28 of last 36: 52-140 (.371), 4 HR, 10 2B, 1 3B, 26 R & 28 RBI
- Named the Astros Double-A Defensive Player of the Month for July
- Went 5-for-5 July 19 at Midland, owns two of the five 5-hit games in club history
- Thru 26 games in July: .371 with 15 runs, 7 doubles, 1 HR and 19 RBIs
- Batting .321(52-162) vs. RHP; .306(19-62) vs. LHP; .379(25-66) w/RISP
- Had played 40 games this season for Sugar Land Skeeters (.285-4-24)
- Was the Texas League's batting champion with the Hooks in 2009 (.338)
- Holds franchise single-season records for average (.338) and RBIs (109)
Ben Orloff
- Posted career highs for hits (5) & RBIs (4) last Sunday...5-5 with 3 R, 2B, & 3B
- 3-9 with one double is series at ARK
- Has hit safely in 11 of last 16, 18-58 (.310)
- Batting .250(17-68) vs. RHP; .353(6-17) vs. LHP; .214(3-14) w/RISP
- Was hitting .288 with 8 doubles, 29 RBIs and 7 steals in 77 games at Lancaster
- Featured the lowest K/PA ratio (15.09) in the California League...32 BB / 22 K
- Featured a .972 fielding percentage, tops among CL shortstops
- .284-2-31 with 15 doubles and 51 RBIs in 96 games at Lexington last year
- MVP for Tri-City in 2010...ValleyCats went on to win NYPL Championship
- Hit .307 with 52 R, 4 2B, 16 RBIs, 34 BB, 19 Ks & 23 SB in 63 games that season
Andy Simunic
- 1-for-5 with two walks in series at ARK
- 4-game hit streak snapped Wed., 6-16 (.375) with 1 2B, 3 R & 1 RBI
- Has hit in 14 of last 17 games, going 21-63 (.333) with 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI & 9 BB
- Batted .316 thru 21 games in July, scoring 17 runs and driving in 9
- Hit 2nd pro grand slam July 20 & drove in career-high 5 runs
- Has hits in 23 of last 28 games, 36-107 (.336) with 22 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 12 RBI and 12 BB
- Rejoined Hooks June 14 from AAA Oklahoma City, where he was 0-9 in 8 games
- Hit .391 with 4 doubles and 7 RBIs during 16 games in June
- 3rd in the league in hitting (.308)
- Batting .300(78-260) vs. RHP; .338(25-74) vs. LHP; .242(23-95) w/RISP
- Finished last year at Lancaster: .295-5-28 in 67 games
Jon Singleton
- 0-for-6 with 1 run, 1 walk and 4 Ks in series at ARK
- 4-game hit streak snapped last Wed, 7-19 with 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR and 9 RBIs
- Has 6 HR in last 66 games / 11 HR thru first 50 games | 15 RBIs in last 12 games
- Hits in 22 last 32 games, 35-121 (.289) with 26 R, 7 2B, 3B, 5 HR & 23 RBIs
- 7-for-17 July 2-9 w/ 3 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs & 4 BB to earn TL POW honors
- 1st in the league in runs (83), 2nd in walks (76), T-3rd in XBH (46)
- .347-3-14 with 9 2B, 2 3B, 18 BB & 25 K over 28 games in July to earn CC P-o-M honors
- .148-1-6 with 4 2B and 20 BB thru 25 games in June
- Named the Texas League's Player of the Week (May 21-27), hit .500-4-12
- CC's offensive player of the month in May (.281-7-24, .931 OPS)
- Batting .284(84-296) vs. RHP; .250(28-112) vs. LHP; .300(36-120) w/RISP
- Batted .350 with 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR 13 RBIs, 12 walks, 16 Ks thru 22 G in April
George Springer
- 1-for-3 w/ 1 2B, 1 R and 1 BB in first AA start (8/10) ...HBP on the head in 9th...missed 3 games
- 0-for-14 with 6 Ks in series at Arkansas
- Hit .316 with 18 2B, 10 3B, 22 HR, 82 RBI and 28 SB in 106 games for Advanced-A Lancaster
- 8th in the California League in BA (.316), t-3rd in HR (22), 5th in RBI (82), 2nd in H (137)
- In July hit .389 with 6 HR and 24 RBI and 9 SB; had a .464 OBP and a .657 SLG
- Mid-season all-star, voted CL Player of the week ending 5/14, 12-for-23 (.522), 5 HR & 10 RBIs
- Posted 3 HR night on 5/11 vs. Lake Elsinore, 16-game hit streak from 6/23 to 7/8
- Rated as the No. 3 prospect in the HOU system by both Baseball America and MLB.com
- BA rated him as the best defensive outfielder and best outfield arm in the organization
- Played in eight games last season for Short Season A Tri City last year and went 5-for-28
- Received the second highest signing bonus in Astros history at $2.525 million
- Selected in the first round (11th overall) in the 2011 draft out of the University of Connecticut
- Became the highest draft pick in UConn history
- Named the 2011 Big East Player of the Year after hitting .343 with 12 HR, 77 RBI and 31 SB
Chris Wallace
- Rejoined the Hooks Wednesday following a 3-week stint at Triple-A OKC
- 0-for-5 in series at ARK with a SF
- Has hit safely in 7 of last 10, 13-29 (.448) w/ 5 R, 5 BB, 2 2B & 5 RBIs
- 3-for-3 June 22 at FRI with 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR & 3 RBIs
- Has hits in 9 of last 16 (.377), 17-45 with 10 R, 3 2B & 7 RBIs
- Went 10-for-37 (.270) with 3 2B & 7 RBIs in 15 games with the RedHawks
- .167-1-7 in 16 June games / .467-1-3 in 11 July games
- Batting .242(29-120) vs. RHP; .268(11-41) vs. LHP; .250(12-48) w/RISP
- His HR (20) and RBI (78) totals ranked third among Houston farmhands last year
- Posted a .291 average in 4 years for the Cougars, led Houston with 10 HRs as a senior
Austin Wates
- Went 3-for-3 with 3 R, 1 2B & 2 RBIs last Sunday following 3-week stint on DL (groin)
- 1-for-7 with a run scored in series at ARK
- Has hit safely in 9 of last 12 games; 15-41 (.366) with 11 R, 2 2B, 1 HR & 4 RBIs
- Hit his first walk-off HR as a pro July 12 vs. Frisco (3-for-5 with 6 RBIs)
- 4th player in Hooks history to drive in six RBIs in one game
- Tied for 5th in the league with a .304 average | SB last night...previous: May 31 at Arkansas
- Hitting .317 (33-104) since the beginning of June with 6 2Bs, 2 HRs and 16 RBIs
- Struck out 5 times July 5 at NWA - a career and franchise high
- Batting .318(76-239) vs. RHP; .257(19-74) vs. LHP; .338(24-71) w/RISP
- Named Lancaster's MVP in 2011, led the JetHawks in 8 statistical categories
Texas League Stories from August 18, 2012
- Road Troubles Continue for Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Game Postponed - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Saturday Night's 'Riders Game Rained Out - Frisco RoughRiders
- Game Notes, August 18 at Springfield - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Survive Hooks, Rain - Arkansas Travelers
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